Should Mitt Romney win the presidency next Tuesday, it will mark an historic first: a Mormon couple moving into the White House.

What would this mean and look like?

Would there be “dry” state dinners, since faithful Mormons don’t do alcohol? Would Secret Service tag along to sacred ceremonies only open to worthy church members? What book would a President Mitt Romney use to take his oath of office?

We can’t be absolutely sure about all the answers. But if the practices and homes of devout Mormons like the Romneys – not to mention his history as governor of Massachusetts – are any indication, we can begin to paint a picture of what a Romney-inhabited White House might look like.

Given the importance of the Book of Mormon, this question seemed worth asking: Any chance Romney would place his hand on a Book of Mormon at his swearing-in ceremony?

“No, no way Romney would do that,” Jana Riess, a religion scholar, co-author of “Mormonism for Dummies,” and blogger for Religion News Service, wrote in an e-mail message. “I’m not aware of any Mormon who has sworn on the Book of Mormon instead of the Bible for national office. (I’m not aware of any local officials who have done this either.)”

Most likely, Romney would go back to the Bible he used in 2003 when he was sworn in as governor of Massachusetts – the same one his father, George Romney, reportedly used when he was sworn in as Michigan’s governor in the 1960s.

Beyond paint and fabric swatches

Having never been invited over for a meal, we can’t pretend to know anything about the Romney aesthetic when it comes to home decoration. But we wondered and asked about specific items that tend to hang in Mormon households.

Randall Balmer, an award-winning historian, author and chair of the Department of Religion at Dartmouth College, speculated that the Romneys – like plenty of Mormons – might display artwork featuring a depiction of Jesus and a photograph of LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson, considered a “prophet, seer and revelator” by members of the church.

Another possibility, said Riess, would be a photo of the Salt Lake Temple where Mitt and Ann Romney were married and “sealed” for eternity in a sacred ceremony in 1969.

Then there’s something commonly known as the “Proclamation on the Family,” which is often framed and displayed in homes – though rarely in upper-class households, said Joanna Brooks, author of “The Book of Mormon Girl: Stories from an American Faith.”

The proclamation features words set forth by LDS Church leadership in 1995, highlighting family and gender responsibilities. Among the points made: Marriage is between a man and woman; the primary responsibility of fathers is to oversee and provide for families; and mothers must first and foremost care for the children.

But he said, “the most quintessential Mormon item would be pictures of their family,” including those of ancestors, because “families are forever” and bound for eternity in the Mormon view.

Ann and Mitt Romney are surrounded by family before the October 22 presidential debate at Lynn University.

Bennett also suggested that a verse or two of Scripture that is particularly meaningful to the Romneys might be framed and on display.

If any of these things would hang in the White House, they would likely appear in the private quarters where first families are free to do what they please.

That doesn’t mean Romney wouldn’t be allowed to honor his faith in some way in the Oval Office, but decorative decisions in public rooms – the spaces visited on tours – are subject to committee discussions and advisers on historic preservation, explained Melissa Naulin, assistant curator in the Curator's Office of the White House Museum.

Can I get a cup of coffee? How about something stronger?

In accordance with a revelation received in 1833 by LDS Church founder Joseph Smith, something known as the “Word of Wisdom,” faithful Latter-day Saints abstain from coffee, tea and alcohol.

Does this mean a return to the days of “Lemonade Lucy,” the posthumous nickname given to the wife of Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th U.S. president, who banned alcohol from the White House?

No, said Cabinet members from Romney’s gubernatorial era and a current top aide. They said this health-related observance is not one the Romneys would impose on or expect of others.

“As governor, when Mitt Romney entertained at official functions in the evening, alcohol was served along with soft beverages,” said a senior aide who asked not to be identified in stories about religion.

“There was always a healthy cup of coffee for anyone who wanted it,” said Renee Fry, a former Cabinet member.

“Cabinet dinner gatherings were not dry,” wrote Douglas Foy, who also served in Governor Romney’s Cabinet. “Although the governor and his wife did not partake – which the governor often joked about, since he sponsored the gatherings and paid for the wine!”

Storing – and refraining from – food

The LDS Church advises its members to store enough food to feed a family for a year.

Food storage is viewed as a practical measure, one that can come in handy during, say, a crippling superstorm, massive power outages or unforeseen financial hardships.

The practice is rooted in Mormon history. The church’s early pioneers, on their trek westward to what is now Utah, experienced great suffering and starvation. They also endured their share of persecution and couldn’t rely on the help of others. So having resources squirreled away became a collective comfort.

Any chance that the Romneys would institute White House food storage?

Not because they would need it for themselves or likely anyone else at the White House, but Riess said in these uncertain times, it could be a good lesson in preparedness to showcase to the nation.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see that,” she said.

Mitt Romney gathers donations in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

Even if a family storing it doesn’t need the food, by having it available that family is poised to help others. Serving those less fortunate or in crisis is big in the LDS Church, and it is a part of another practice that may find its way into the White House if the Romneys move in.

The first Sunday of every month is Fast Sunday, when committed Mormons who are able forgo food and drink for about 24 hours. Coupled with prayer, it has spiritual meaning. It also serves to instill compassion for those who are in need, and to that end Mormons are encouraged to minimally donate what they would have spent on food to the church’s welfare fund.

Fast Sunday, or calls to fast at other times, can also bind Mormons together when they pray and fast for a common cause.

A Utah woman created buzz earlier this fall when an e-mail she sent out to friends and family, suggesting they fast to help Romney before the debates, began making the rounds in Mormon circles across the country. A new website, romneyfast.org, also the brainchild of private citizens – and not a church-sanctioned effort – asks people to fast and pray for Romney and his wife Ann this Sunday before America goes to the polls.

When he was governor of Massachusetts, and in general, Mitt and Ann Romney observed Fast Sunday and “always contributed very generously to the fast offering fund,” said Bennett, who held church leadership roles with Romney in the Boston area.

What’s more, Bennett said that when Romney served as their congregation's bishop – the equivalent of an unpaid pastor – it wasn’t uncommon for the two friends to fast more than once a month. At the time, Bennett was one of Romney's two counselors, or advisers.

“Occasionally he would invite me and the other counselor to join him in fasting on a weekday for a specific purpose,” Bennett wrote in an e-mail. “For example, one purpose would be to seek inspiration regarding an important decision, another purpose would be to express love, support and solidarity to someone who was ill or going through very difficult times.”

Whether Romney would maintain this observance from the nation’s highest office, we can’t know. But it looks like the White House kitchen staff may be in for a little downtime each month, if they’re lucky.

Honoring the Sabbath, going to church and other Mormon observances

Sunday is a holy day for active LDS Church members. It’s a time when Mormons attend their local congregation - it's known as a ward, which in Catholic-speak would be comparable to a parish - and worship with their families and community.

The ward closest to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., and likely the one the Romneys would be assigned to, is the Washington D.C. 3rd Ward, which gathers in what Mormons call a “meetinghouse” or chapel on 16th Street NW. The Washington Post described this ward as consisting of mostly Democrats, half who are nonwhite (including plenty of Spanish speakers), and having openly gay members in its leadership.

Riess said while ward assignments are almost always determined geographically, sometimes there are exceptions. And the truth is there just isn’t any precedent for how this would be handled for a U.S. president.

How much of his Sundays a President Romney could set aside for his faith is obviously uncertain. We already know he’s been hard at work on the campaign trail, Sundays included – though the senior aide we spoke to said he makes efforts to get to church when he can.

One need only look at President Jimmy Carter, who went so far as to teach Sunday school at his local Baptist church, to see how a sitting president can make room for faith, said Balmer of Dartmouth, who counts among his many books “God in the White House: How Faith Shaped the Presidency from John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush.”

Romney faithfully showed up at church on Sundays while he was governor, unless an official function got in the way, Bennett said. And when Romney ran for U.S. Senate in 1994 against Ted Kennedy, Bennett – then the ward’s bishop – assigned Romney to teach the weekly adult Sunday school class.

“He was in church virtually every Sunday teaching this class throughout the campaign, only occasionally arranging for a substitute teacher,” his friend said.

Beyond church, Riess speculated about other observances Romney would uphold.

Mormons reserve Monday evenings for “family home evening,” a time when families pray, study and sing together.

Someone serving in church leadership, who didn’t want to be named because of the sensitivity of the subject matter, said he doubted the Romneys would observe family home evening since their kids are grown and gone. But Riess suspected that Romney and his wife, especially given the size of their brood – five sons; 18 grandchildren – and the likelihood that family would be passing through, would honor the Monday tradition in some way, even if it was just the two of them.

There’s also a practice in LDS Church wards in which men who hold the priesthood – which means the authority, for example, to perform baptisms and offer sacramental blessings – are partnered up to visit other congregation members, ideally once a month, as home teachers.

The LDS Church does not have paid clergy, and this is one way that volunteer ward pastors, or the bishops, can make sure members get personal attention and lessons as needed.

So could home teachers come knocking on the White House doors?

It’s possible, said Riess, though obviously there’d be background checks and no unannounced knockings.

But a U.S. president couldn’t possibly be expected to regularly home teach others, right?

Probably not. But Romney did step up as governor, Bennett said.

“He both had home teachers, and he was assigned as a home teacher, when he was governor,” Bennett said. “He and Ann would ensure they were available for their home teachers to visit, and he was faithful in doing his home teaching.”

And then there’s the big question: What about the temple?

Many non-Mormons falsely assume the large and often magnificent white LDS temples they see in their cities are where Latter-day Saints go for church. But Mormons gather for Sunday services in meetinghouses or chapels, which are usually plain, unimpressive structures.

The Washington D.C. Temple, not too far from the White House, is considered by Mormons to be a house of the Lord.

The 140 temples currently in operation across the globe are actually closed on Sundays. Mormons view their temples as houses of the Lord, as Riess explained in her book, and they are not places for run-of-the-mill worship. Temples, instead, are reserved for the most sacred rituals – the details of which are not to be discussed outside temple walls.

The temples are so sacred that the doors are not even open for all Mormons; only those deemed sufficiently worthy by local church leadership are granted a “temple recommend” or an entry card.

While sacred ceremonies or “ordinances” for the living – such as weddings, during which couples are “sealed” for eternity – happen inside, there are also rituals performed by living substitutes or proxies for those who have died. These rituals include baptisms, which have been at times a subject of controversy for the LDS Church.

Romney, who long served in church leadership, surely has a temple recommend. But does that mean he’d actually go to the Washington D.C. Temple, which sits about 10 miles north of the White House in Kensington, Maryland?

“If I were him, I’d probably just not go while I was president, if only out of courtesy to other patrons,” said our source in church leadership who didn’t want to be named. “It’s not like it’s some kind of ‘go often or you’ll go to hell’ thing. It’s just a standard part of being a committed Mormon, which you do if you can find the time.”

And a President Romney couldn’t go there, let alone anywhere else, without Secret Service. So if he wanted to go, would he be able to? Even Secret Service agents would be turned away from the temple without the right access card.

Not a problem, speculated Balmer of Dartmouth. He said finding qualified agents, if Romney hasn’t found them already, would be easy.

It’s well-known that the CIA, FBI and, by extension, he said he assumes, the Secret Service recruit at LDS Church-run Brigham Young University. All these agencies, Balmer said, are “looking for people who are good, loyal, patriotic Americans,” and many Latter-day Saints, who believe in the divinity of the U.S. Constitution, fit that bill.

So if it would be important for Romney and the first lady to go to the temple, it should be possible.

soundoff(2,237 Responses)

no reason to even bother with this, he just lost Ohio. Wamp, wamp, wahhhhh....

November 6, 2012 at 11:15 pm |

End Religion

goodbye akin and murdouck, republicans falling left and right. Romney and Ryan can give each other secret handshakes all the way back to Utah.

November 6, 2012 at 10:09 pm |

WillieLove

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbC9I09Hb-s&w=640&h=390]

November 6, 2012 at 7:31 pm |

WillieLove

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFfdOkwyuL0&w=640&h=390]

November 6, 2012 at 7:21 pm |

rocketscientist

This article is pretty accurate. About the things Romney and his wife will probably have in their private quarters, my in-laws generally have the same things in their homes (haven't seen pictures on Monson though).

Really, there's no significant difference between Mormon and non-Mormon homes as far as decorating. I love seeing all my mom-in-law's pictures of her grandchildren and my her own children. She's got one wall full of 22 portraits of grandchildren (and 1 great grandchild). She likes showing them off, just like any grandma would.

I'm also not surprised that Romney and other Mormon politicians have used the Bible for their oaths.

I'd expect that the Secret Service will remain outside the temple when Romney and Mrs. Romney visit. That is, unless there is a Mormon Service member with a temple card. This shouldn't be a big deal since you need a temple card to get in anyway.

November 6, 2012 at 7:13 pm |

phil

do a Google search on "20 Truths About Mormonism" Not only will you not vote for Romney, you will want to invade Utah.

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November 6, 2012 at 4:41 pm |

Catherine

Read the book! If you want to know the truth about the Mormon Church, its doctrines and the gospel, then read the Book of Mormon, or chose to be ignorant until you do.

Many people who have read the book of Mormon know without a doubt that the book is true. To live the way that God has intended requires sacrifices, many people don't want to change their lives until it is too late, thus many death bed confessions of their should have/could have/would have.

I challenge all that read this comment to either learn for yourself of the truth or live in blindness while everyone who is enlighten has and will continue to live the best lives ever.

Note this, even our Buddhist Brothers and Sisters knows that the church is true, they don't criticize us, they love us and practice the religion of their choice and culture, this is also true of many other religions who love the Mormons and what they stand for.

When a national disaster happens, Mormons are always the 1st responders and do all they can to help support, clean and provide for whatever need, food, clothing, shelter, medical, you name it, it is the Mormons that are there to help.

Mormon homes are safe, their families are well cared for, there is plenty of food storage, water and best of all a willingness to share with their neighbors and with those who do not share their same beliefs.

My son is a member but chose to not attend church, his younger siblings are doing very well, attending universities, working at incredible jobs and have wonderful lives and friends.

My son chose a different path and suffers. He struggles with finances, substance abuse issues, cannot drive because of DUIs and wonders why his sibling are doing so well while he is not.

My son is the oldest, the one who should be the lead, showing and being a good example, and now at age 26 he is trying to get his life in order, he now realizes how far behind he is to his siblings and its not only embarrassing, I believe he feels shame.

This shame comes from following the world, instead of following his heart. the prodigal son is now coming home, still stubborn, but now hopeful for a better life free from substance abuse, cigarettes and friends that had lead him astray.

Read the Book of Mormon, it will help you to have a better life, a better family and the best relationship with God and His Son Jesus Christ.

One more thing, to read the book of Mormon does not mean that you would want to join the church after reading it. Be objective, ask questions, pray about it and see where this new information takes you, but please don't join for we have so many members, over 14 Million and growing in the USA, there are also millions of members living their Mormon faith in their home countries.

The meeting rooms are so crowded, and all the kids, the potluck dinners, the service work, and people bringing you food when you are ill, the job training programs, those that are expert in their field sharing their talents.

The fact that when you live as a true Latter Day Saint (Mormon) you become very prosperous, spiritually and yes financially.

The music, singing and dancing, and the terrible clean living, the Holy Ghost constantly by your side and the direct communication with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, the youth programs, the Relief Society, the Priesthood, and the constant celebration of all things good from Birth, Death, Birthdays, Weddings, Just Because, and geese so much activity, not to mention all the activities not mentioned in the above.

We don't need more members of the church, so now I challenge you to not read the book of Mormon....continue with your ho hum lives and let us see in the end "Whose On The Lord's Side Who."

November 6, 2012 at 4:37 pm |

Mark

I'm sorry but the "Church" is not "True" and neither is the Book of Mormon. They have some very good lessons in it, however the whole premise of the "Church" is the Joseph Smith was a Prophet of the Lord by his visions he received. He possibly did receive some type of inspiriation, but he was not called by the "Lord" If he was then why 9 different versions of the "First Vision" are out there by other "Church" members. I don't care if he started the "Church" for selfish or to be helpful. It doesn't matter. The fact that it does more good than bad is commendable. There is no "True Church".... Why? What was Jesus' life all about? Was it to establish an all important "Church" No, it was about helping people understand what was important in this life. Towards the end of his life did he say "Though must go to church?" No! He said that there were only 2 things that he commanded or said was important. Believe in Him and Treat others as you would be treated. If there is a "True Church" it would be less worried about being right and controlling others Free WIll. It would be more concerned about the things that Jesus said were his only 2 commandments.

November 6, 2012 at 5:50 pm |

GodFreeNow

There is just as much evidence to support the book of mormon as truth, as there is the bible or the quran or any other theological text... that is, zero.

The simple truth is that you believe because you want to believe. Just like people who believe in ghosts or fairies or any other fantasy that lacks evidence. That's fine. It's your life and no one should tell you what you have the right to believe in or not.

I've read the book of mormon, the bible, the quran, the tibetan book of the dead and the dhammapada. Without evidence, these texts are nothing more than speculation. Like I said, believe what you like, but just know that other people believe in their stories just as fervently as you believe in yours. They would likely encourage you to read their holy texts and see the truth for yourself. They would likely tell you that following their teachings will lead to a better life. You must either believe that all of these other people are lying and only people who agree with you are telling the truth, or you must accept that there is more than one way to have a better life filled with peace—and as such, one story is just as good as another.

November 6, 2012 at 6:26 pm |

Prayer Changes Nothing

Belief in God is a waste of time and energy. It doesn't matter which God.

November 6, 2012 at 3:57 pm |

Sam's Uncle

And you are welcome to your opinion. I disagree.

November 6, 2012 at 4:03 pm |

headlessthompsongunner

Keep imagining.

November 6, 2012 at 3:46 pm |

Tim Jordan

Love all the non-LDSers posting their bigoted nonsense. Funeral potatoes, jello, and unusual under garments is what you'll get if Mitt's elected.

November 6, 2012 at 3:36 pm |

pastmorm

Really Tim?
So LDS'ers are better huh?

Why not speak to an ex-mormon? People leave all religions, all the time, for many reasons. Why only ask a current member? Because you don't want people to ask you about how you'll become a GOD after you reach the Celestial Kingdom?
Because you don't want people to ask about Joseph Smith and his 14 year old wife? He was a peodophile.
Because you don't want people to know about the communistic Law of Consecration?
Because you don't want people to know about the church's "Avenging Angels?"
Because you don't want people to know about your secret (oops, sacred) temple names?
Because you don't want people to know how women will NEVER be equal to men in the mormon church, even down to your belief that GOD has a wife, but she is too sacred to mention...which leads to the belief in polytheism...you're not even a Christian religion.
Because all your commercials and your mormon websites have NOTHING to do with what you really practice in your temples and what your past prophets have said?
Uh huh...just ask a mormon and stay ignorant.

November 6, 2012 at 3:41 pm |

WillieLove

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVtEvplXMLs&w=640&h=390]

November 6, 2012 at 3:18 pm |

Anthony Bourne

Did you know that the mormon doctrine teaches that black people are a cursed race? According to the Mormon faith, blacks were cursed by God at the creation of the world because they would not chose to go with either Satan or God.

Anyone who thinks this is a "normal" everyday religion needs to do some studying. This is as close to an occult as it comes.

November 6, 2012 at 3:18 pm |

Tim Jordan

For sure. Believing in talking snakes, wooden poles turning into snakes, the sun standing still for a battle, bringing the dead to life, walking on water, the sky raining frogs, turning water into wine, feeding 5-thousand people with a couple of fish and a loaf of bread is perfectly sensible, no? Religion is for children and the weak-minded and it's all quite silly.

November 6, 2012 at 3:41 pm |

Franco

The LDS members will be knocking on a lot of doors if Romney wins, but then they said the same thing about John Kennedy.

November 6, 2012 at 3:00 pm |

Cindy

America's best Presidents did not bring their religious services into the Peoples House.

November 6, 2012 at 2:44 pm |

ImIrish

Please provide a list of the Presidents to which you refer.

November 6, 2012 at 2:55 pm |

abraham

@imirish, please provide a list of presidents that didn't.

November 6, 2012 at 3:17 pm |

pastmorm

Oh, and yeah mike, how does anyone know that Mike Rogers is your name? I could say mine is Jack Black....would that make it true? People use pseudonyms on these posting boards because they often express the meaning behind their intent.

November 6, 2012 at 1:36 pm |

Mike Rogers

If you want people to believe you are sincere in what you say, why would you be afraid to put you real name on the discussion board. There is a lot of open hostility on this board towards members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. These views are hate-filled and uninformed or misguided. To those that read these boards, I would suggest that if you wnat to know the real story behind Mormons, you talk to a current one, just as I would suggest that you talk to a practicing Muslim or Hindu if you wanted to know more about them. Do not listen to the bigoted words of hate on these boards.

November 6, 2012 at 1:20 pm |

pastmorm

Why not speak to an ex-mormon? People leave all religions, all the time, for many reasons. Why only ask a current member? Because you don't want people to ask you about how you'll become a GOD after you reach the Celestial Kingdom?
Because you don't want people to ask about Joseph Smith and his 14 year old wife? He was a peodophile.
Because you don't want people to know about the communistic Law of Consecration?
Because you don't want people to know about the church's "Avenging Angels?"
Because you don't want people to know about your secret (oops, sacred) temple names?
Because you don't want people to know how women will NEVER be equal to men in the mormon church, even down to your belief that GOD has a wife, but she is too sacred to mention...which leads to the belief in polytheism...you're not even a Christian religion.
Because all your commercials and your mormon websites have NOTHING to do with what you really practice in your temples and what your past prophets have said?
Uh huh...just ask a mormon and stay ignorant.

November 6, 2012 at 1:34 pm |

Jenny Porter

Mike? Where are you? You were SO brave to use a name (your real name?) and yet you're not brave enough to answer pastmorm....what's up with that?

November 6, 2012 at 2:02 pm |

ImIrish

Wow, Mike, I agree.

There are an incredible number of bigots against Mormons. That's a shame.

I am Catholic, and I have NO problem with having a Mormon in the White House.

We won't tolerate racists, and we shouldn't, but too many people are okay with religious bigots.

November 6, 2012 at 2:59 pm |

abraham

@Imirish....what exactly are religions bigots? Wasn't America formed on the basis of freedom FROM religion? Didn't most people that came here want to escape the control of governments that was ruled by a religious head of state?
You really need to educate yourself or you need to go live in the middle east where a Theocracy is alive and well. Then you won't whine anymore about something that doesn't exist.

November 6, 2012 at 3:16 pm |

Sam's Uncle

I'll answer Jenny. The simple reason you ask someone who practices the religion is because they are the most likely to provide you with an accurate explanation of the beliefs of their religion. It's really that simple, and it actually makes sense. Why do you act like we as Mormons are so ashamed of our beliefs? I am not ashamed of what I believe. I would say you distorted our beliefs in your little juvenile rant there. That's the reason you generally don't ask someone who doesn't intimately practice a religion. You kind of get half-truths and garbage mixed with fact.

The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.